Robots: A Premature Solution for the Land Mine Problem

Abstract

Several large research efforts have failed, so far, to develop an effective mine clearance alternative to the existing manual technique. Robots have been tried at great expense, but without success. This paper argues that robots are not an appropriate solution for mine clearance. First, there is little likelihood of sensing improvements in the short term. Second, the huge variety of mines and minefields defies any automated solution. Third, robotic solutions are likely to be too expensive to be practical for humanitarian demining operations in countries like Angola, Afghanistan and Cambodia. The effort devoted to robotic solutions would be more helpful if it were directed at simple equipment improvements and low-cost robotic devices might provide some useful improvements in safety and cost-effectiveness in the short to medium term.

Understanding why “high tech” research efforts have failed, so far, may help to avoid similar mistakes in other ambitious robotics research programmes.